used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
the two together, not just one
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
and nothing more
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
not any; not one
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
express in words
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
express in words
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
a special situation
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "'No,' she says, 'I think it's the same thing for us both.'
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "He didn't let himself look at her, but his voice--well, I tell you, his voice looked.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "'What do you mean?' he says--just said it a little and like he didn't dare trust it to say itself any more.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "'Why, being able to help in this, surely,' she says.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "'That would be one thing for you,' he answered, 'and another for me.'
